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Living Free - Feb. 12, 2013

"But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent." - 2 Peter 3:8-9 NLT

Thoughts for Today

Our personal relationship with God will determine how we interpret death for ourselves and others. The Bible is filled with references that help us develop our own philosophy of death. Understanding God's point of view will help us deal with death and the grief it brings.

For the next few days, we will look at scriptures that will help us understand God's perspective. Let's look at these truths through the filter of God's love. He wants only the best for us and has provided the way. Sometimes we may look at the mess the world is in and wonder why Jesus hasn't come for us yet. Today's scripture explains that: He loves us so much He wants all of us to repent so we can spend eternity with him.

Consider this …

Some facts about death . . .

Death is in the world because of sin. Since sin entered our nature through the fall of Adam and Eve, each person is born into a world of sin. "When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned." (Romans 5:12 NLT).

Death is an unavoidable event. This is declared in Joshua's dying testimony: “Soon I will die, going the way of everything on earth" (Joshua 23:14 NLT). The promise of death is as sure as the promise of salvation.

Death is a universal event. Death comes to people of all nations and all ages. "Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment" (Hebrews 9:27 NIV). This refers to humankind universal—every man, woman, teenager, boy, and girl from every continent, country, city, town, and farm.

Death is no respecter of persons. Death comes to everyone, no matter his or her rank, caste, or social status. Job put it this way:

"For in death the wicked cause no trouble, and the weary are at rest. Even captives are at ease in death, with no guards to curse them. Rich and poor are both there, and the slave is free from his master." (Job 3:17-19 NLT)

This week we will take a closer look at what the Bible has to say about death.